Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has appealed to university chancellors to join hands with government in finding solutions to funding for the \u201cmissing middle\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough the debt profile of students is something that needs to be better understood, it is presumed that much of the debt is carried by missing middle students, both current and past students,\u201d Nzimande said.<\/p>\n
Nzimande made the call at the launch of the Chancellors\u2019 Forum of all 26 public universities in South Africa.<\/p>\n
Addressing the hybrid Chancellors\u2019 Forum launch and roundtable discussion comprising Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, Chairs of Council and Student Representative Council (SRC) Presidents of South African universities, Nzimande said although the office of the chancellor has no executive powers, given the context of the higher education system, the chancellor\u2019s role is \u201cmore than just being a titular head\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe chancellor participates in outreach and philanthropic initiatives. The chancellor acts as an ambassador for the university, advocating to raise its profile, and advancing its interests nationally and internationally,\u201d the Minister said.<\/p>\n
The \u201cmissing middle\u201d comprises students who do not meet the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) financial eligibility criteria, but still struggle to afford higher education.<\/p>\n
Nzimande said there are different estimates of the numbers of students in this category, as the institutions do not have accurate socio-economic data. However, the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) appointed in 2016 estimated the figure to be approximately 20% of undergraduate students.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreater in-depth analysis and data collection is necessary to understand better the issues facing students who fall outside NSFAS eligibility and are self-paying. It is also difficult to know how many students are not accessing public higher education at all, because of financial difficulty,\u201d Nzimande said.<\/p>\n
He said stakeholders must take into account the substantial changes in the student funding environment since 2018, the student debt issues in the system, and many other demands on State funding for higher education and training, including postgraduate funding support, as well as the fiscal context.<\/p>\n
Other initiatives implemented by government to support poor and missing middle students include:<\/p>\n
\u2022\tIn 2016, there was a 0% increase on university tuition fees. The funding to cover this came primarily from the State;<\/p>\n
\u2022\tIn 2017 and 2018, tuition fees increased by a maximum of 8% across the system, in accordance with an agreed compact across the system;<\/p>\n
\u2022\tIn 2019-2021, tuition and accommodation fees were agreed to in terms of a CPI-linked compact;<\/p>\n
\u2022\tThe department is working on a fee regulation policy framework, to be introduced for the period 2022-2024;<\/p>\n
\u2022\tIn 2019, Nzimande approved funding for transfer to NSFAS to address the historic debt of NSFAS qualifying students registered in 2018, following a due diligence process announced at the time of the announcement of the new bursary scheme. This process is being managed by NSFAS with the support of universities.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In approving the reprioritisation of funds from the department\u2019s budget to support the NSFAS shortfall for 2021, Cabinet, in March 2021, requested the department to conduct a policy review of student funding.<\/p>\n
The Minister said he will present the policy review to Cabinet at the conclusion of this process. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Source: South African Government News Agency<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has appealed to university chancellors to join hands with government in finding solutions to funding for the \u201cmissing middle\u201d.\u201cAlthough the debt profile of students is something that…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n